The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) clinical and administrative perinatal centers are located within the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System. This brings together academia, clinical research, and advanced clinical services in one location. All of the major health care professions including medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, allied health, and public health are located in one place. UI Health and ambulatory clinics are equipped with the latest technology and are staffed with highly trained personnel. As a result of this rich mix of expertise and advanced technology, the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System is able to provide sophisticated sub-specialty care 24/7 and is an ideal site for the referral of high risk pregnancies and high risk neonates.

UIC has been an active participant in the development, implementation, and ongoing administration of the Regionalized Perinatal Program in Illinois since the late 1970s. From the inception of perinatal regionalization, UIC has had a continuous record of active involvement in improving outcomes for pregnancies and neonates by providing progressive care and improving care within its network of hospitals through the provision of exemplary professional education, program implementation, and quality monitoring.

Role of the UIC Perinatal Center

Clinical Responsibilities: The Regionalized Perinatal Healthcare Code 640 requires the Administrative Perinatal Center be part of a university or university affiliated hospital. These clinical sites must be capable of providing the highest level of care within the region for high-risk maternal and neonatal patients and must participate in a thorough re-designation site visit every three years to verify that they have the required specialized personnel and services available 24 hours a day.

IDPH partnered with the Illinois Perinatal Quality Collaborative (ILPQC) in late 2012 when the Illinois Perinatal Advisory Committee’s Prematurity Task Force recommended that resources be provided for a perinatal quality collaborative to work in tandem with the Regionalized Perinatal Program. Since its inception, IDPH & ILPQC engage in ongoing perinatal quality improvement initiatives. Each initiative adds value for all perinatal stakeholders, optimizes resources, spreads best practices, reduces variation, and promotes family and patient-centeredness.

Level 2: Hospitals that provide care to women and newborns at moderate risk, operate intermediate care nurseries and do not operate NICU or Special Care Nursery.

Advocate South Suburban Hospital, Hazel Crest

Advocate Trinity Hospital, Chicago

Holy Cross Hospital, Chicago

Presence Mercy Medical Center, Aurora

In Illinois, through the perinatal regionalization system; level I, II, IIE, and III hospitals are evaluated every 3 years by the IDPH Office of Women’s Health through re-designation site visits. These site visits follow the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules 640 rule and Part 250 Hospital and Licensing Requirements.